Water heaters



May 22, 1962 R. H. ASHLEY 3,935,555

WATER HEATERS ROBERT H. ASHLEY ATTORNE May 22, 1952 R. H. ASHLEY 3,035,555

WATER HEATERS Filed April 29, 1955 v s sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ROBERT H. ASHLEY Bmguv ATTORNEY May 22, 1962 R. H. ASHLEY 3,035,555

WATER HEATERS Filed April 29, 1955 5 Sheets-Shea?, 3

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ROBERT H. ASHLEY A TTORNE Y United States Patent() 3,035,555 WATER HEATERS Robert H. Ashley, Bryn Mawr, Pa., assignor to John Wood Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 29, 1955, Ser. No. 504,721 3 Claims. (Cl. 122-137) My invention relates to improvement in water heaters, and is particularly adaptable for use in what are lknown as domestic automatic gas Water heaters, commonly used in homes, etc., to supply hot water for household uses, etc.

An object of my invention is to provide a Water heater which includes a plurality of spaced apart combustion chambers provided with respective gas burners; one combustion chamber located transversely through the bottom portion of the water tank and in complete spaced relationship above the bottom closure, and another combustion chamber located transversely through the upper portion of the water tank and in complete spaced relationship with the top closure and closer to the hot water outlet of the water tank; both combustion chambers being completely surrounding throughout their entire external surfaces by water in the water tank; whereby hot Water may be drawn from the water heater quickly after depletion, and the complete recovery time for the water heater greatly decreased from that of water heaters of the present conventional design.

Another object of my invention is to provide a water heater in which the combustion chambers, extending transversely completely through the water tank, are connected at their respective open distal ends with a ilue located on the outside of the water tank.

Another object of my invention is to provide a water heater in which the combustion chambers, extending transversely completely through the water tank, are readily removable and replaceable.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved water heater which is considerably more eicient for heat transfer than the present construction of water heaters, and which improved Water heater will be more economical to manufacture than the present conventional design of domestic automatic gas Water heaters.

My invention includes the various novel features of construction and arrangement hereinafter more denitely specied, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In said drawings:

FIG. l is a side elevation, partly in section, showing a water heater embodying my improved construction wherein the tank is provided with a plurality of combustion chambers, with respective burners, extending transversely completely through the water tank; one combustion chamber being located near the bottom closure of the water tank and the other combustion chamber being located near the top closure of the water tank.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation, partly in section, of the water heater shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front elevation, partly in section, of the burner end of the combustion chamber shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of the water heater tank, combustion chamber, etc., shown in FIGS. l and 2, and taken on the line 4-4 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view of a portion of the burner end of the combustion chamber, taken on the line 5-5 in FIG. 3.

Referring to FIGS. l to 5, inclusive; the Water tank indicated generally at 1 includes a cylindrical shell body member 2 which is provided with a top closure member 3. The top closure member 3, conveniently, is provided with a circumferential flange 4 which is adapted to be `ICC push-fitted into the top of the shell member 2. The head member 3 and shell 2 are integrally welded together, conveniently, by a circumferential weld, as indicated at 5.

The shell body member 2 is provided with a bottom closure 6 which, conveniently, has a circumferential flange portion 7. The bottom closure 6 is push-fitted into the bottom of the shell member 2, and the bottom closure 6 and shell member 2 are integrally welded together, conveniently, by circumferential Weld, as indicated at 8, or by resistance Welding, etc.

The Water tank 1 preferably is surrounded by a heat insulating material 10, and an outer jacket member 12.

The bottom closure 6 is provided with a spud 13 which has a screw-threaded opening therethrough `for a nipple 14 which is in screw-threaded relationship with the T 15.

A cold water inlet supply pipe 16 is connected to one side of the T i5, and the opposite side of the T 15 has connected thereto a pipe 17 which is provided at its outer end with a drain valve (not shown) -for draining the water tank 1. Conveniently, a multiple apertured cold Water element 18 is positioned around the inlet pipe opening in the bottom closure 4 to cause the incoming flow of cold water to have a scavenging effect on any sediment of foreign matter, which may have been entrained in the incoming cold water, and which may have settled at the bottom portion of the tank 1.

The top closure 3 is provided with a spud 19 which has a screw-threaded opening therethrough in which is engaged the hot water outlet pipe 20 from the water tank 1.

I nd it convenient to mount the water heater on a plurality of supports 21 which maintain the heater in spaced relation with a floor, and afford space beneath the heater for the cold Water inlet pipe and drainpipe.

Referring more particularly to FIG. 4; the shell member 2 is provided at its lower portion with transverse oppositely located aligned openings 25 and 26, conveniently circular. An L-shaped circular ange ring member 30 is inserted in the rear opening 26 and integrally circumferentially welded to the tank 2, as indicated at 31, to maintain the flange ring member 30 in watertight relationship with the shell 2. The flange ring member 30 is provided with an axial circular opening 32, and the flange ring member 30 is stepped to form a circular recess 33 which is of greater diameter than the opening 32. The circular recess 33 is provided with a compressible gasket member 34.

An L-shaped circular flange ring member 36 is inserted in the front opening 25 of the shell 2 and integrally welded Vcircumferentially to the tank 2, as indicated at 37, to maintain the ilange ring member 36 in watertight relationship with the shell 2.

.The flange ring member 36 is provided with an axial circular opening 38, and the ange ring member 36 is stepped to form therein a circular recess 39 which is of greater diameter than the opening 38. The circular opening 38 in the ange ring member 36 and the circular recess 33 in the flange ring member 30 are in axial alignment.

A tubular combustion chamber 40, of such diameter as to t closely in the circular recess 33 of the flange ring member 30, is push-fitted in the recess 33, with the end surface of the tubular combustion chamber 46 in engagement with the compressible gasket member 34. The outer end of the tubular combustion chamber 40 fits closely in the circular opening 38 in the ange member 36.

The recess 39 of the flange ring member 36 is provided with a gasket 41 surrounding the periphery of the tubular combustion chamber 44). The ange ring member 36 is provided with a series of circumferential screw-threaded stud members 43. An L-shaped circumferential ring member 45, provided with an axial circular opening 46 which is of a diameter substantially the same as the Vchamber 40.

A burner assembly member 50, provided with a circuv lar outer disc member 51, of substantially the same diameter as the internal diameter of the tubular combustion chamber 40, is push iitted in the outer end of the tubular combustion chamber 40. The burner assembly 50 is rigidlyV mounted in the end of the combustion chamber 40 by means of a series of screws 52 inserted in a circumferential series of openings 53 formed in the periphery of the flange ring member 45 and matching holes S4 formed in the tubular combustion chamber 40, and which screws 52 are engaged in a matching series of screwthreaded holes 55 in the periphery of the disc member 51 of the burner assembly S0. As indicated in FIG. 3, the series of openings 53 for the screws 52 are located intermediate the series of openings 56 formed in the ring member 45 for the screw-threaded stud members 43.

The combustion chamber 40, including the burner assembly 50, is rigidly mounted in the shell 2 by means of nuts 57 in screw-threaded engagement with the stud mem- Ybers 43. Tightening of the series of nuts 57 causes the Vinner end of the combustion chamber 40 to compress the gasket 34 in the ilange ring member 30, and also to compress the gasket 41 positioned in the circular recess 39 of the flange ring member 36.

The disc member 51 of the burner assembly is provided with an axial Opening 60 for a burner member, indicated generally by the reference mark 61. The inner end of the jet burner 61 extends through and is supported by a support means 62, formed, conveniently, as an integral part of the burner assembly 50. The burner assembly 50 and burner 61 may be of any conventional design. I nd it desirable to provide the inner end of the support means 62 with a flame spreader member 64. The burner 61 is connected by suitable piping connections to a gas supply line 65 which is connected to a thermostatically controlled valve in the valve housing 67, and which may be of any of the well-known designs. As shown in FIG. 2, the thermostatically controlled valve member 67 is connected by piping means 68 to a source of gas supply, and the Valve controlled by thermostatic means of any of the Well-known constructions, such as the thermostatic element indicated at 69. It is to be noted that my improved construction will permit the use of the less costly type of clamp-on thermostat, instead of the more clostly immersion type shown.

The disc member 51 of the burner assembly 50 is provided with an opening 70 for a pilot burner member 71, of a conventional design, the pilot member 71 being rigidly secured in the disc member S1 by the nut 72. The pilot member 71 is connected by suitable piping 74 to a conventional pilot Valve (not shown) within the valve casing 67.

The disc member 51 of the burner assembly 50 is provided with a screw-threaded opening 75 in which is rigidly secured a thermocouple 76 of a well-known conventional design. The thermocouple 76 is connected by convenient means 78 to the valve controlling the ow of gas from the supply source through the valve casing 67. The thermocouple 76 operates in the Well-known manner to shut olf the supply of gas from the supply source in the event the pilot 71 and burner 61 become extinguished.

As shown in FIG. 3, the disc member 51 of the burner assembly 50 is provided with adjustable air opening means to variably-control the air to the burner 61.

The opening 32 at the inner end of the combustion chamber 40 is in open communication with the flue member 80 which, conveniently, is rigidly secured to the shell 2 by any convenient means. The upper end of the flue member Si? extends vthrough the outer jacket member 12 and is directly open to atmosphere, or connected to atmosphere by well-known llue pipe means. As indicated in FGS. l and 4; I have found it desirable to provide the ilue member 89 with a series of baiiles 81 which partially impede the oW of products of combustion through the ue member so as to utilize eiciently the B.t.u.s of the gases flowing through the flue member to augment the heating of the Water in the water tank 1.

At the top portion of the water tank 1 a second combustion chamber 110, burner 112, pilot, thermostatically controlled valve means, gas supply connections, etc., of the same form and construction as has been described heretofore with reference to the lower vcombustion chamber 40, burner assembly 50, etc., is located.

The combustion chamber 110, burner 112, etc., is located in relatively close proximity to the hot water outlet pipe 20 which is in screw-threaded connection with the spud 19 in the top closure 3. The combustion chamber is surrounded completely throughout its entire external surfaces by water in the water tank 1 in the same manner as heretofore described with reference to the combustion chamber 40.

The upper combustion chamber 110 is in open communication with the flue member 80 at the outside of the water tank 1 in the same manner as heretofore described in connection with the combustion chamber 40.

My invention is applicable to water heaters in which the water tank is made from either ferrous or non-ferrous metals. Most of the water heaters manufactured at present include a steel water tank, which usually is either galvanized completely, or provided with a protective vitreous enamel coating on the interior surfaces of the water tank. The combustion chamber, or chambers, of water heaters embodying my invention, likewise, may be made from either ferrous or non-ferrous metals and, if made of ferrous metal, may be galvanized, or may be provided with a vitreous enamel coating on the exterior surfaces thereof exposed to the water in the tank.

However, I have found it desirable to form the combustion chamber of a metal having a higher coeicient of conductivity than steel, such as copper, or a copper alloy. As copper has a coefficient of `conductivity which is approximately six -times greater than that of steel, it is obvious that with a copper combustion chamber there would be a more eiiicient transfer of heat from the burner within the combustion chamber to the Water, in the tank, completely surrounding the combustion chamber.

Operation Assuming that the temperature of the Water surrounding the thermostatic element 69 within the tank 1 has dropped to the temperature for which the thermostatic element 69 has been adjusted to open the main gas valve within the valve housing 67, gas flows from the burner member 61 and is ignited by the pilot member 71. The heat from the flames of the burner member 61, desirably a jet burner with a swirling type of arne, heats the wall of the tubular combustion chamber 40 in its entirety, which effects heating of the water completely surrounding the combustion chamber 40.

The products of combustion pass out the inner end of the combustion chamber 40 and through the axial circular opening 32 in the ange ring member 30 in open cornmunication with the vertically extending flue member 80 secured to the outside of the shell 2. The combustion gases in their travel upwardly' through the flue member 80 heat the por-tion of the shell in the immediate vicinity of the ue, which effects additional heating to some degree of the water in the tank 1.

With the combustion `chamber 40 being completely surrounded by water in the tank and being completely spaced apart from the bottom closure of the tank, the water within the tank 1 will be heated more eiciently and with little or no heat dissipation losses such as inherently exist in a water heater of the present conventional design, wherein Ythe gas burner is located in a combustion chamber beneath the bottom closure, which results in a fair amount of heat energy being dissipated through the bottom assembly and walls of the combustion chamber, with little orA no heating effect on the water in the water tank.

When the temperature of the water Within the tank 1 rises to the degree to which the thermostatic control element 69 is set to function, the thermostatic control 69 effects closure of the main gas valve to cause extinguishment of the burner 61, in the well-known manner of operation of automatic gas water heaters. The pilot burner member 71 remains lighted in the customary manner to again effect lighting of the burner member 61 when the temperature of the water in the tank drops, and the thermostatic element 69 again opens the main gas valve.

As hot water is drawn from a spigot, etc., connected by suitable piping to the hot water outlet pipe in the top closure 3 of the water tank 1 of the water heater, water from a source of supply enters through the cold water inlet 16. The entering cold water passes through the multiple apertured cold Water diffuser element i8 to cause such inflow of Water to have a scavenging effect on my sediment which may have settled at the bottom portion of the tank 1. As is well known, the water heated in the bottom portion of the tank 1 will rise by convection current yto the top portion of the tank.

If a limited quantity of hot water be withdrawn from the water tank 1, the thermostatic means controlling the gas burner 56, in the lower combustion chamber 40, will open the valve controlling the ow of gas to the gas burner S0.

When only a limited amount of hot water is withdrawn from the tank 1, the water in the upper portion of the tank usually will be of such temperature that the thermostatic means controlling the gas valve for the burner 112 in the upper combustion chamber 110 will maintain said gas Valve closed, and, hence, only the burner 50 in the lower combustion chamber 40 will be operating.

If a suicient amount of hot water be drawn from the tank 1 as will lower the temperature of the water surrounding the thermostatic means controlling the burner 112 in the upper combustion chamber 110 to such a degree as to cause said thermostatic means to open the valve controlling the flow of gas `to the upper gas burner 112, the upper burner 112 will then operate and heat the water in the tank surrounding the combustion chamber 110 in addition to the operation of the burner 50 in the lower combustion chamber 40.

With the burner 112 in the upper combustion chamber 110 operating, it is obvious that there will be hot water almost immediately at the top of the tank which may be withdrawn, and even after a complete depletion of the hot water in the water tank.

If an abnormal amount of hot water be drawn from the tank 1, as may frequently happen during certain periods of use in households, or if there be a complete depletion of hot water in the water tank 1, the recovery time for the entire volume of the water heater will be greatly decreased from that of Water heaters of the present conventional design.

It is obvious that various modilications may be made in my invention without departing from the eseential features thereof, and, therefore, I do not desire to limit myself to the precise details of construction and arrangement herein described.

I claim:

l. In an automatic gas water heater which includes a water tank having an elongated body portion and top and bottom closures, said water tank being provided with a water inlet and a hot water outlet; a plurality of spacedapart combustion chambers extending transversely completely through said body portion of said water tank, one

combustion chamber extending transversely through the lower part of said body portion of said water tank and in complete spaced-apart relationship with said bottom 5 closure of said water tank, and another combustion chamber extending transversely through the upper part of said body portiony of said water tank and in complete spacedapart relationship with said top closure of said water tank; whereby, the external surface of each of said combustion chambers will be completely surrounded by'water in said water tank; means securing each of said combustion chambers at their respective opposite ends in uidtight relationship with said body portion of said Water tank; and a thermostatically controlled gas burner for each of said combustion chambers, with each gas burner mounted in said combustion chamber to direct ilames therefrom into the interior of its respective combustion chamber.

2. In an automatic gas water heater which includes a water tank having an elongated body portion and top and bottom closures, said water tank being provided with a water inlet and a hot Water outlet; a plurality of replaceable spaced-apart combustion chambers extending transversely completely through said body portion of said water tank, one combustion chamber extending transversely through the lower part of said body portion of said water tank and in complete spaced-apart relationship with said bottom closures of said water tnk, and another combustion chamber extending transversely through the upper part of said body portion of said water tank and in complete spaced-apart relationship with said top closure of said water tank; whereby, the external surface of each of said combustion chambers will be completely surrounded by water in said water tank; means removably securing each of said combustion chambers at their respective opposite ends in huid-tight relationship with said body portion of said water tank; and a thermostatically controlled gas burner for each of said combustion chambers, with each gas burner mounted in said combustion chamber to direct llames therefrom into the interior of its respective combustion chamber.

3. In an automatic gas water heater which includes a water tank having a cylindrical elongated body portion and circular top and bottom closures, said water tank being provided with a Water inlet and a hot water outlet; a plurality of replaceable cylindrical tubular spacedapart combustion chambers extending transversely cornpletely through said cylindrical body portion of said water tank, one combustion chamber extending transversely through the lower part ot' said cylindrical body portion of said water tank and in complete spaced-apart relationship with said bottom closure of said Water tank, and another combustion chamber extending transversely through the upper part of said cylindrical body portion of said water tank and in complete spaced-apart relationship with said top closure of said water tank; whereby, the external surface of each of said combustion charnbers Will be completely surrounded by water in said water tank; means removably securing each of said replaceable cylindrical tubular combustion chambers at their respective opposite ends in fluid-tight relationship with said cylindrical body portion of said water tank; a thermostatically controlled gas burner for each of `said combustion chambers, with each gas burner mounted in said combustion chamber to direct flames therefrom into the interior of its respective combustion chamber; and a ue means connected to the exterior of said cylindrical body portion of said water tank, with the respective distal ends of each of said cylindrical tubular combustion chambers in open communication with said tlue means.

(References on following page) References Cite in the le of this patent 2,431,753

UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,710,665 Mertzanof Apr. 23, 1929 1,985,831 Hynes Dec. 25, 1934 2,218,422 Haddock 051. 15, 1940 759,378

Holderle et a1. Dec. 2, 1947 Trageser Aug. 31, 1948 Jones Aug. 30, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS France Nov. 16, 1933 

